Unit 2 - MOTION, FORCE, WORK AND ENERGY

Essential UnderstandingsA change in motion occurs when an object is acted upon by an unbalanced, external force.Energy provides the ability to do work and can exist in many forms.

StandardsConnecticut Curriculum Standards and Assessment Expectations, Grades 6 - 8, ScienceConnecticut CINQ. 1 through CINQ. 108.1 An object's inertia causes it to continue to move the way it is moving unless it is acted upon by a force.8.1.a The motion of an object can be described by its position, direction of motion and speed.8.1.b An unbalanced force acting on an object changes its speed and/or direction of motion.8.1.c Objects moving in circles must experience a force acting towards the center.7.1 Energy provides the ability to do work and can exist in many forms.7.1.a Work is the process of making objects move through the application of force.7.1.b Energy can be stored in many forms and can be transformed into the energy of motion.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)NGSS Practices 1 through 8Physical Science 2.A Forces and Motion: A frame of reference from which motion is described and the role of the mass of an object must be qualitatively accounted for in any change of motion due to the application of a force.Physical Science 2.B Types of Interactions: forced that act at a distance involve fields that can be mapped by their relative strength and effect on an object.Physical Science 3.A Definitions of Energy/Physical Science 3.B Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer : Kinetic energy can be distinguished from the various forms of potential energy. Energy changes to and from each type can be tracked through physical or chemical interactions; the relationship between the temperature and the total energy of a system depends on the types, states, and amounts of matter.

Essential Questions

How does one calculate the average speed of a moving object and illustrate the motion of objects in graphs of distance over time?

What is the qualitative relationships among force, mass and changes of in motion?

How can we describe the forces acting on an object moving in a circular path.

What is the relationship among force, distance and work and how is the relationship (W=FxD) used to calculate work done in lifting heavy objects?

How are simple machines, such as inclined planes, pulleys and levers used to create mechanical advantage?

How can different types of stored (potential) energy be used to make objects move?

Lesson Objectives - Students will be able to:

Calculate the average speed of an object and distinguish between instantaneous speed and average speed of an object.

Create and interpret distance-time graphs for objects moving at constant and non-constant speeds

Demonstrate how forces, including friction, act upon an object to change its position over time in relation to a fixed point of reference.